Boonton Dam dam
Boonton Dam
Boonton Dam, located in Boonton Town, Morris County, New Jersey, is a historic masonry dam completed in 1905 for the primary purpose of water supply from the Rockaway River. With a height of 120 feet and a length of 2150 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 28,000 acre-feet and serves as a critical water resource for the region. It is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Despite its age, Boonton Dam has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential due to its location and the volume of water it holds. The dam has a drainage area of 119 square miles and a surface area of 800 acres, making it a significant water management infrastructure in the region. With its impressive history and continued utility in providing water supply, Boonton Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demand.
Boonton Dam's significance as a water supply structure in New Jersey is underscored by its association with the Philadelphia District of the US Army Corps of Engineers and its congressional representation by Mikie Sherrill. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Boonton are crucial for ensuring water security and resilience in the face of future challenges. The dam's satisfactory condition and compliance with state regulations demonstrate a commitment to effective water management and the protection of communities downstream from potential flood risks.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Boonton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rockaway River Below Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 10 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Above Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 472 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Pine Brook Nj | 34 cfs | → |
| Passaic River At Pine Brook Nj | 131 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 24 cfs | → |
| Pompton River At Pompton Plains Nj | 126 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Boonton Dam.
Boat launches
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Veterans Court Passaic
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
Track Boonton Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Boonton Dam
Where does the data for Boonton Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Boonton Dam.